Jumpline magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 44
44
BrotHERhood
Michael Vallone, Ret.
share their air with the airless brother.
Fire is fought with this sense. It makes going
into a 昀椀re area, with no visibility or high heat,
possible. Knowing there is a RIT or RIC or
whatever it’s called, is a product of the BrotHERhood. Each 昀椀re昀椀ghter knows a brother/sister
has his/her back. This also sets apart the 昀椀re
service apart from other careers. The BrotHERhood cannot only be on the 昀椀re scene. It must
also be in the 昀椀rehouse.
It is with a bittersweet mind and sad heart that
I write my 昀椀rst article for the Jumpline Magazine. It is a grand endeavor, although at a somber time. I will start by thanking my mentor Jack
Swerdloff for all the help and guidance he has
provided. Second I will thank the amazing staff:
Saylin Paez, Yumanela Candelaria, Eric Goodman, and Pat Stanila from Top Drawer Printing.
We celebrate the man who had a tremendous
impact on those around him, and to a great
extent, even those not around him. Those under him, especially probationary 昀椀re昀椀ghters,
were deeply affected by his skills, tutelage, and
leadership in so many positive ways. He had a
powerful in昀氀uence. In this life, it is a blessing
to so positively touch so many. William “Bill” V.
Gustin has been hailed by monikers such as:
colleague, cap, mentor, guru, 昀椀re昀椀ghter’s 昀椀re昀椀ghter, friend, teacher, leader, instructor, pillar,
legend, and icon amongst others.
His passing is a huge loss and a sad time. What
is done cannot be undone. The 昀椀re service is
often reactive, not always the best strategy, but
lessons learned, are of themselves good. The
BrotHERhood is a grand concept, and in ways
has been intertwined in the 昀椀re service for over
a hundred years.
The BrotHERhood
cannot only be on
the fire scene. It
must also be in the
firehouse.
This sense of “brotherhood” provides an awareness to 昀椀re 昀椀ghters, that if they get into trouble or
trapped, a fellow 昀椀re昀椀ghter will come to their aid or
rescue, and carry them out of harm’s way, or even
It starts in the 昀椀rehouse. If a fellow 昀椀re昀椀ghter looks or sounds like they need help, talk to
them. Then talk, talk, talk some more. It’s okay
to reach out and its okay to reach in. Often
though, it isn’t so easy. Fire昀椀ghters generally
don’t want to talk to fellow 昀椀re昀椀ghters about personal aspects of their life, which can make helping someone dif昀椀cult. But talk anyway.
Some people will not reach out for feeling like a
burden. Reaching out is not being burdensome.
“Burden” has gotten a bad name. Some people
would go away rather than being what they perceive as being a burden to others or family. That
attitude has got to change.
People are not rocks. Fire昀椀ghters are not
rocks. Under too much stress, they will crack.
There is help for those with mounting stress that
just can’t be relieved through simple stress relief techniques. A
person should recognize that point within themselves and seek
help. Sometimes people give clues that they’ve reached that
point, and those clues should not be ignored.
He had a powerful
in昀氀uence. In this life, it is
a blessing to so positively
touch so many.
Although the world
is full of suffering,
it is also full of the
overcoming of it.
- HELEN KELLER
William “Bill” V. Gustin
has been hailed by
monikers such as:
colleague, cap, mentor,
guru, 昀椀re昀椀ghter’s
昀椀re昀椀ghter, friend, teacher,
leader, instructor, pillar,
legend, and icon amongst
others.
Spring 2025 | JUMPLINE Magazine
